Smaller-the-better-type six sigma product index

Kuen-Suan Chen; Tsung-Hua Hsieh; Chun-Min Yu; Kai-Chao Yao

doi:10.1038/s41598-023-44721-3

Smaller-the-better-type six sigma product index

Sci Rep. 2023 Oct 19;13(1):17872. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-44721-3.

Authors

Kuen-Suan Chen^{1

2

3}, Tsung-Hua Hsieh^{4

5}, Chun-Min Yu¹, Kai-Chao Yao⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, National Chin-Yi University of Technology, Taichung, 411030, Taiwan, ROC.
² Department of Business Administration, Chaoyang University of Technology, Taichung, 413310, Taiwan, ROC.
³ Department of Business Administration, Asia University, Taichung, 413305, Taiwan, ROC.
⁴ Department of Industrial Education and Technology, National Changhua University of Education, Changhua, 50074, Taiwan, ROC.
⁵ Department of Leisure Service Management, Chaoyang University of Technology, Taichung, 413310, Taiwan, ROC.
⁶ Department of Industrial Education and Technology, National Changhua University of Education, Changhua, 50074, Taiwan, ROC. kcyao@cc.ncue.edu.tw.

Abstract

Based on some studies, there are many important parts of tool machines, all of which have some essential smaller-the-better-type quality characteristics. The six sigma quality index of the smaller-the-better type offers accurate measurement of the process yield and the six sigma quality level. In this paper, we first proposed a six sigma product index by integrating all evaluation indicators for products that contain several quality characteristics of the smaller-the-better type. Next, we derived the confidence interval of this six sigma product index and developed an evaluation model for product quality. When a product passes the evaluation of this model, not only can it be guaranteed that the product reaches the required quality level, but also a high rate of product yield can be ensured. In addition, we also created a product improvement testing model, which can avoid missing opportunities for improvement in the process to ensure improvement effects. This complete evaluation and improvement model is applicable to the entire machine tool industry chain. It can not only increase the product value of the machine tool industry chain but also decrease environmental pollution caused by rework or scrap, which is beneficial to companies to enhance their image of fulfilling social responsibilities. Apart from the above advantages, the model formed in this paper is based on confidence intervals, thereby reducing the chance of misjudgment resulting from sampling error.